Midwinter’s Feast

Greeting and salutations to all, and a well new year. We invite you to celebrate with Lochmere in our observance of Diwali, the festival of lights. As Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair, we thought it would be a great way to start this new year. Diwali is celebrated over five days, the name of festive days as well as the rituals of Diwali vary significantly among Hindus, based on the region of India. In many parts of India, the festivities start with Dhanteras, followed by Naraka Chaturdasi on second day, Deepavali on the third day, Diwali Padva dedicated to wife-husband relationship on the fourth day, and festivities end with Bhaj Dooj dedicated to sister-brother bond on the fifth day. The festival begins usually eighteen days after Dussehra. It is one of the happy holidays where people dress in new clothes, buy gifts for family and close friends, and they hear tales of ancient battles where good triumphs over evil. The event will crescendo to an Indian feast prepared by Mistress Lisette LaRoux.